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A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Preliminary Efficacy of RLS-0071 in Newborns With Moderate or Severe Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Undergoing Therapeutic Hypothermia

A Phase 2, Two-Stage, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multiple-Ascending Dose Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Preliminary Efficacy of RLS-0071 in Newborns With Moderate or Severe Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Undergoing Therapeutic Hypothermia With Long-Term Follow-Up

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05778188
Acronym
STAR
Enrollment
70
Registered
2023-03-21
Start date
2023-07-27
Completion date
2028-12-01
Last updated
2026-04-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Keywords

Birth Asphyxia, Anoxic brain injury

Brief summary

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) affects approximately 4,000 to 12,000 persons annually in the United States. Mortality from HIE has been reported up to 60%, with at least 25% of survivors left with significant neurocognitive disability. Despite this vital unmet medical need, no pharmacological adjunct or alternative therapy has proven beneficial in improving outcomes in neonatal HIE. RLS-0071 is a novel peptide being developed for the treatment of neonatal HIE. This study is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of RLS-0071 in the treatment of newborns with moderate or severe HIE.

Detailed description

This is a Phase 2, two-stage, multisite, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-ascending dose study of RLS-0071 to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary efficacy in newborns with moderate or severe HIE undergoing therapeutic hypothermia. In Stage 1, participants will receive either ascending doses of RLS-0071 or a matched volume of placebo for 72 hours in addition to standard of care treatment, including therapeutic hypothermia. During and after the dosing period, participants will be monitored and assessed for safety evaluations through Day 14. After completion of Stage 1, participants will transition to Stage 2 of the study for long-term observation until participants reach 24 months of age. The first cohort subsets, consisting of Cohort 1a (moderate HIE) and 1b (severe HIE), will receive a dose of 3 mg/kg RLS-0071 or a matched volume of placebo every 8 hours (q8h). A Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) will review available clinical safety and PK data from Cohort 1 subsets with completed study intervention, and make a recommendation on whether to escalate the dose for moderate and severe HIE cohorts. The Sponsor will consider the DSMB recommendation to make their decision on dose escalation in addition to their own evaluation of all available safety and PK data. If the decision is made to escalate, Cohort 2 subsets (2a \[moderate\] and 2b \[severe\]) will be recruited to receive an escalated dose of RLS-0071 (10 mg/kg) or a matched volume of placebo. Following the completion of study intervention for each Cohort 2 subset (2a \[moderate\] or 2b \[severe\]), the DSMB will review available safety and PK data and make a recommendation whether to expand enrollment for Cohort 2+ (2a+ \[moderate\] or 2b+ \[severe\]) at 10 mg/kg RLS-0071 or a matched volume of placebo.

Interventions

RLS-0071 (unit strength 10 mg/mL) will be administered by infusion for a dose level of 3 or 10 mg/kg. Planned infusion duration is 10 minutes for all dose levels.

DRUGPlacebo

Placebo control (commercial sterile saline) will be administered by infusion at a volume matched to RLS-0071 (3 or 10 mg/kg). Planned infusion duration is 10 minutes for all matched dose levels.

Sponsors

ReAlta Life Sciences, Inc.
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY
Premier Research
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

The blinded study team members (eg, Investigators and study staff) and participants' parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will be blinded to treatment group assignments throughout the study.

Intervention model description

Two-Stage, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multiple-Ascending Dose Study

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 10 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. ≥ 36 weeks gestation. 2. Sentinel event prior to delivery such as abruption, tight nuchal cord, uterine rupture, profound bradycardia, shoulder dystocia, or cord prolapse or other acute event likely attributable for newborn depression at delivery or an acute change in the fetal status with a clinical presentation consistent with an acute sentinel event with no clearly defined etiology. 3. Moderate or severe encephalopathy based on at least one risk of encephalopathy criterion (a) and one clinical signs of encephalopathy criterion (b): 1. Risk of encephalopathy (either): * Blood gas drawn within 1 hour of birth, either arterial blood gas (ABG) or venous blood gas (VBG) (cord or infant) with pH ≤ 7.0 OR base deficit ≥ 16 mmol/L. OR * appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration (APGAR) score ≤ 5 at 10 minutes OR * The infant required assisted ventilation ≥ 10 minutes after birth (ie, endotracheal, mask ventilation, or continuous positive airway pressure \[CPAP\]). 2. Clinical signs of encephalopathy (either/both): * Moderate/Severe encephalopathy on National Institute of Child Health and Human Development assessment. * Evidence of seizures (clinical and/or electroencephalogram). 4. Be eligible to receive therapeutic hypothermia. 5. Active whole-body cooling to be started prior to 6 hours of age (passive cooling is permitted prior to active whole body cooling). 6. Product of a singleton pregnancy. 7. Written informed consent obtained from parent or legal guardian.

Exclusion criteria

1. Inability to enroll in the study and initiate the first dose of RLS-0071 within 10 hours of life. 2. Known major congenital and/or chromosomal abnormality(ies). 3. Severe growth restriction (birth weight ≤ 1800 g). 4. Prenatal diagnosis of brain abnormality or hydrocephalus. 5. Patient's head circumference is \< 30 cm. 6. 10-minute APGAR score \< 2, if available. 7. Infants suspected of overwhelming sepsis or congenital infection based on the Investigator's clinical consideration at the time of enrollment. 8. Persistent severe hypotension unresponsive to inotropic support (requiring \>2 inotropes, not inclusive of hydrocortisone). 9. Persistent severe hypoxia in the setting of 100% fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) and unresponsive to nitric oxide or requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). 10. Severe disseminated intravascular coagulation with clinical bleeding. 11. Neonatal encephalopathy believed to be due to a cause other than perinatal hypoxia (ie, other than HIE). 12. Moribund infants for whom withdrawal of care being considered. 13. Suspected or confirmed fetal alcohol syndrome or suspected substance withdraw seizures. 14. Any other condition that the investigator may consider would make the patient ineligible for the study or place the patient at an unacceptable risk (Note: this criterion would include a clinically significant \[eg, Grade 3 or 4\] intracranial hemorrhage).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) by treatment group at Day 14Day 1 to Day 14Number of participants with AEs and SAEs graded between Grade 1 (mild in severity) and Grade 5 (death related to AE).
Frequency and severity of events of special interest and SAEs by treatment group at 24 monthsDay 1 to 24 monthsNumber of participants with events of special interest and SAEs graded between Grade 1 (mild in severity) and Grade 5 (death related to AE). Events of special interest are: autoimmune disorder, persistent hypotension, persistent pulmonary hypertension, acute kidney injury, major venous thrombosis, severe intracranial hemorrhage, pulmonary hemorrhage, culture proven sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, severe thrombocytopenia, hepatic dysfunction, hyperbilirubinemia, coagulopathy, hypocalcemia, cerebral palsy, developmental or speech delay, learning disability, and visual or hearing impairment.
Frequency of premature discontinuation by treatment group due to AEs at Day 14Day 1 to Day 14Number of participants who prematurely discontinue from the study due to AEs
Acute brain injury at Day 4, assessed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), using a standardized scoring systemDay 4Brain injury MRI score includes scoring extent of injury across 4 domains (Grey matter, White matter/cortex, Cerebellum, and Additional). A score of 0 indicates a normal brain MRI, whereas the maximum score of 57 indicates extensive bilateral injury.
Acute brain injury at Day 12, assessed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), using a standardized scoring systemDay 12Brain injury MRI score includes scoring extent of injury across 4 domains (Grey matter, White matter/cortex, Cerebellum, and Additional). A score of 0 indicates a normal brain MRI, whereas the maximum score of 57 indicates extensive bilateral injury.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Composite of mortality and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 24 monthsDay 1 to 24 months
Mortality at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 monthsDay 1 to 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 monthsNumber of participants alive at each timepoint
Number of participants with clinically significant laboratory abnormalities, events of special interest, and SAEs at 3, 6, 12, and 18 monthsDay 1 to 3, 6, 12, and 18 months
Neurocognitive developmental outcome assessed by Bayley-4 at 24 months of age24 monthsThe Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (4th Edition) consists of 5 subdomains: the Cognitive, Language, Motor, Social-Emotional, and Adaptive Behavior scales. Cognitive, Language, and Motor domains include a total of 264 items, each ranked between 0-2 (where 0 is not present and 2 is mastery); the Social-Emotional and Adaptive Behavior domains are assessed through caregiver questionnaires.
Neurodevelopmental growth impact: Diagnosis of cerebral palsy at 24 months of age24 monthsNumber of participants diagnosed with cerebral palsy
Neurodevelopmental growth impact: Grading of cerebral palsy by using the Gross Motor Function Classification System-Expanded and Revised (GMFCS-E&R) at 24 months of age24 monthsThe GMFCS is a 5-level classification system for children and young people with cerebral palsy, where Level 1 indicates ability to walk without limitations and Level 5 indicates reliance on a manual wheelchair.
Number of participants diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe visual impairment and hearing impairmentDay 1 to 24 months
Number of days of supplemental nutritional support requiredDay 1 to 24 months
Seizure occurrenceDay 1 to Day 14Discrete number of seizures recorded
Total seizure burden (total number of minutes seizing as measured by continuous electroencephalogram [EEG]) during hospitalizationDay 1 to Day 14
Electrical activity abnormality scoring as measured by EEGDay 1 to Day 14
Impact on infant and family wellness, assessed by the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS)3 and 12 monthsThe MIBS is a 9-item questionnaire, with total scores ranging from 0 to 27. A high score indicates weaker mother-to-infant bonding.
Impact on infant and family wellness, assessed by the Parenting Stress Index, 4th Edition Short Form (PSI-4-SF)3, 12, and 24 monthsThe PSI-4 is a 36-item questionnaire focusing on three domains: Parental Distress, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction, and Difficult Child, which combine to form a Total Stress scale. Scores are assessed following conversion into percentile ranks. Scores falling in the 90th or higher percentile indicate clinically significant parenting stress.
Quality of life assessment over the first 24 months of lifeDay 4 to 24 monthsA quality of life questionnaire will be used to collect information regarding the care of the aging child over the first 24 months of life.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTLori Upham
Lupham@realtals.com757-901-0331

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 14, 2026